One Level Head in Gates Fiasco
Wears a Ponytail
July 29, 2009
by Bonnie Berger
|In the dust-up over a Harvard professor’s recent disorderly conduct arrest, three men shot from the hip and misfired, while one untrained but careful woman acted responsibly. As Wendy Murphy, attorney for the 911 caller pointed out in a press conference:
As this story has unfolded (as you all know), we’ve talked a lot about and debated the overreactions of three men, Professor Gates, Sergeant Crowley, and even President Obama, all men with special training, in one way or another, on the important topics at issue in this controversy. Well, I’m here today, proud to introduce you to the one person who did not overreact, a woman with no special training, who nevertheless did everything right (and you’ve all heard the tape) when she made a measured, thoughtful, and objective call to 911…
So the three highly trained guys who reacted badly are getting together for a beer at the White House, and that’s a good thing. But the one person whose actions have been exemplary will be at work tomorrow here in Cambridge. I don’t know – maybe it’s a guy thing. She doesn’t like beer anyway.
The 911 caller, Lucia Whalen, added:
I tried to be careful and honest with my words.
If only the men had done likewise. Thank you, Lucia, for your clear head and brave actions. Makes a good case for more women in law enforcement, academia, and the White House, doesn’t it?
How smart that Attorney Wendy Murphy framed it in that woman-positive way!
(Not sure the “Testosterone Poisoned” part of this title is as message savvy.)
*****A
Great piece Bonnie!
You go girl!
Lucia Whalen rocks.
How powerful and courageous both these women are. The NJ Police Benevolent Assn. has a letter to President Obama on their website in support of Officer Crowley. I suggested they also write a letter of support for Lucia Whalen who has essentially been punished for being….a concerned and conscientious citizen.
I hope this video goes viral. Anyone who harassed Ms. Whalen stands disgraced.
so glad that you have this video. Lucia Walen has our support.
This is such a good piece.
Go Bonnie.
This is exactly what I was thinking after I heard a couple of days ago that she had lawyered up.
That poor woman.I hope this all passes for her.And ALL three of those men should apologize to her for putting her in that position.
I was surprised at myself as I read your article, Bonnie. I heard Lucia Whalen’s 911 call several times on tv and recognized how carefully she explained why she was calling 911, but thought of her as separate from the three–Obama, Gates, and Crowley–men. Then I forgot about her. You, though, recognized Whalen was the one person who “did everything right”. A couple of times during the early frenzied reports it appeared she could be blamed for identifying Gates as African-American, but once she could not be held accountable for any racial identifications, she was largely ignored– until she lawyered up. I must say your article was a consciousness raising experience for me. Why didn’t I think the way you did???
Here’s to women who do everything right (including you, Bonnie).
Love the new title!
*****A
Another thing that gets forgotten (besides Ms. Whalen) is the fact that Crowley put in his report that Whalen had mentioned that she saw “two black men” breaking in the house.
Why hasn’t the MSM or anyone for that matter asked him why he would put that in the report without first checking with her, since he did tell her to stay at the house during the fiasco. Ms. Whalen said he never spoke to her again.
I question the oversight and Crowley’s not ever coming forward stating that he made a mistake. Or is he too caught up in his male pride to admit he made a mistake and put an inflammatory statement in his report that directly impacted Ms. Whalen in the worst way?
It appears that Ms. Whalen is the only one in this fiasco who truly deserves an apology and from all of the boyz and that it is she who should be honored at the WH for being a good citizen — a rare quality these days.
Yet another example of boyz being placated for bad behavior and women being ignored for exemplary behavior. What’s wrong with this picture?
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